83 



CHAPTEE XY. 



THE BUCKLER OF PEARLS. — THE FISHERIES, — ORIENTAL PEARLS. — THE 

 DIVER. — A REPLY. — NATURE OF PEARLS. — ARTIFICIAL HELPS. — FRESH- 

 WATER MUSSELS. UNIO ANODONTA. — SALT-WATER MUSSELS. MYTILUS 



EDULIS SOUGHT FOR FOOD, BAIT, AND PEARLS. — DREISSENA AT HOME. 

 MODIOLA CREVELLA. 



TJNIONIDiE AND MYTILIDu^. 

 SALT AND FRESH WATER MUSSELS. 

 The famous shield, covered by British pearls, and dedicated 

 to the Goddess of Beauty by Csesar, could scarcely have been 

 worthy of its shrine, unless it were for the great pains and 

 expense incurred by the warrior in procuring the gems. 

 Supposing even that his pearls were the produce of Unio 

 margaritifems, or "pearl mussel,'^ they would, in comparison 

 with " oriental tear-drops,'' compose but a dull surface of 

 tiny beads, with here and there a spark of nacreous glitter. 

 But if, as perhaps was the case, they were from the common 



